The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has clarified that he never called a military officer a “fool” during his recent confrontation with Lieutenant A. Yerima over a land dispute in Abuja.
The incident took place on Tuesday in Gaduwa District, where FCT officials attempted to enforce a demolition order on an unapproved structure at Plot 1946. The operation was met with resistance from armed military personnel, allegedly following instructions from retired Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo, a former Chief of Naval Staff under President Muhammadu Buhari. Gambo’s name has been linked to the disputed property.
At a press briefing, Wike explained, “Some people said I called the boy a fool. What I meant is you cannot carry out an illegal order. I did not say ‘military, you are a fool.’ I couldn’t have said that. The soldiers were just carrying out orders, and my point was about the illegality of the directive, not a personal insult.” He emphasized his respect for the military, noting their sacrifices in fighting insurgency and terrorism in Nigeria.
Meanwhile, the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, said the matter should have been resolved through proper channels. Speaking to DCL Hausa, Matawalle revealed that Wike had earlier contacted the Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede, and the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, who advised allowing the military to investigate before taking action.
Matawalle stressed that Lieutenant Yerima was only following orders and praised the officer for maintaining discipline and professionalism during the confrontation, describing the public exchange as unnecessary and avoidable.
